 Author: Nancy Mehl Genre: Mystery/Suspense Series: Ryland & St. Clair #1 Pages: 336 Release Date: July 11, 2023 Publisher: Bethany House Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They're soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son, who disappeared four years ago. River knows there's almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be. But as they follow the boy's trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. As River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, an even more dangerous threat emerges, stirring up the past that haunts River and plotting an end to her future.
 Reviewer: Beverly Laude River Ryland and her partner, Tony St. Clair, are former FBI profilers. They are both still suffering the aftereffects of an encounter with a serial killer. Now, they have moved to a town near St. Louis and opened a private investigation firm. River has moved in with her mother, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Their first case involves the disappearance of a young man from a concert. His mother, Amy, knows that Chris is probably dead, but after four years, she just wants to be able to give him a proper burial. He didn't have any enemies, so who could have killed him? While this story is developing, the reader is also introduced to another young man suffering from schizophrenia, Synesthesia. Brian Walker is tired of being taunted and ridiculed and has a lot of anger issues. The parts of the book that describe Brian's thoughts and actions are truly chilling but also sad. The author has delved into several areas that make this a unique book. She has a character with obvious mental issues, a character with PTSD, another with Alzheimer's, and one with aphasia and memory problems. All of this makes this book more believable since we all have something going on in our lives that helps to determine our behavior and mold our character. The book also deals with faith, as River deals with the loss of her belief in God, Tony's total reliance on God, and the hope that comes from God. As one character says, "I operate on the belief that everyone can be helped. God is a miracle worker." There are plenty of tense moments throughout the book and lots of emotion. The interactions between River and her mother were especially poignant and truly captured the facts of dealing with dementia. Brian is also a sympathetic character, even though he has devolved into evil. The book has a lot of inspiration in it as River comes to terms with her past and realizes that God is always there for her, no matter what. The story opens up the possibility of many more books featuring this duo, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures. If you enjoy a suspenseful thriller with a lot of inspiration, this is a great way to get both. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.  Reviewer: Elisha Varela The antagonist was a bit too much for me. It was beyond creepy. I had to close the book a few times, and I yelled at other times. It wasn't really that bad, but my scare tolerance is kinda low. But I had to open up my book to find out what happened next. I cannot wait for the next book! However, the story was interesting. You can tell that the author Nancy Mehl put a lot of thought and love into this book. This is my first book by Nancy Mehl, and it will not be my last one. I just hope the creepy level is not the same. Tony and River were so great together. They started a PI business and had to solve a case. The title was perfect for this. Tony was so loyal to River. River had her issues, and she had to work on those. Tony was the perfect match for River. I received this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. Reviewer: Lauren Nel Meet River and Tony, two ex-profiler FBI agents who have started a private investigation company. When a grieving mother asks them to help her find her son who has been missing for many years, they are unaware that this will lead to the uncovering of a serial killer. Will they find the missing teen, or will they be thrown into something more sinister? This is a murder mystery that I enjoyed immensely. Nancy Mehl was incredibly clever in how she wrote this book. She linked the killer from River and Tony’s past to the present really well. This gave the book a chilling aspect as I was not sure when the killer would strike. She also managed to write the main antagonist in a light that made my heart bleed for him. In the book, he suffered from schizophrenia and synesthesia. As a character, he brought to light how people with mental illnesses are treated by their loved ones and society. Another mental illness that was explored is Alzheimer’s. River’s mother suffers from this disease, and that, along with a complicated past causes many rifts in their relationship. A strong trend throughout the book is the exploration of God. Nancy Mehl uses her writing to share that God will love, forgive, and guide us no matter what happens. She explores unbelief and questioning of God and what people blame Him for. She also explores repentance and reconciliation. The relationship between Tony and River was written well. Their friendship and fierce protection of one another were beautiful. It showed the intricacies of true friendship and loving people through their brighter and darker moments. If you are looking for a gripping book with a strong emphasis on faith and the humanness that affects this, you should read this book! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. All views and opinions are my own. Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford I was burning the midnight oil reading this treasure. Wow... I could not rest until I closed the final page. There was just no good place to stop reading. The book opens up with a terrifying scene where River's life is in the hands of a vicious killer. Her chance of survival looks bleak. Fast forward to the present, River Ryland and her partner, Tony St. Clair, have left the FBI. Both profilers left the FBI after their brush with death at the hands of a maniac. He is now safely behind bars, but the scars remain for River and Tony. River has PTSD and suffers recurrent nightmares. Tony has memory issues which he is working to overcome. Tony's emotional recovery has far exceeded River's recovery. He stands fast on his faith and prayer, but River is still a doubter. They have opened a private investigation office. They get their first client when a broken woman walks through their door. Her son has been missing for four years. She knows he is no longer alive but wants to find and bury him. She needs peace. Once they start investigating his disappearance, this opens up a whole new can of worms, and they find a little more than they bargained for. The story then speeds forward full steam ahead. The chapters are broken down, and we get a look inside the mind of a disturbed individual as he tries to live a somewhat normal life, but his issues are just too great. We are taken on the journey of the investigation into what really happened on that fateful night four years ago. This was an intricately plotted mystery with a mind-boggling twist in the end that I never saw coming. The characters were well-developed, and I felt some measure of empathy for both of them. This book dealt with issues such as Alzheimers, PTSD and a neurological disorder known as Synesthesia (which I had never heard about). It was an interesting, albeit scary, disorder. The characters' faith journey was interwoven throughout this story - one with a staunch, unmoving stand on their faith, while the other was a doubter. As is her usual fashion, Nancy Mehl expertly writes a thriller that ticks the boxes of a great mystery along with a little creep factor, but the threads of faith provide hope to a dark situation. Now that I have read this first installment in her newest series, I anxiously await the next installment. Thank you to Bethany House for a courtesy copy of this book through Interviews and Reviews. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Reviewer: Monica Huyser It has been quite a while since I have read a Nancy Mehl book. Her newest book, Cold Pursuit, is a book that would be enjoyed by fans of Lynette Eason if you haven't read one for a while, either. Cold Pursuit had more of a thriller aspect than the last book that I read by her. In Cold Pursuit, Former FBI agents River Ryland and Tony St. Clair recently opened a new private detective agency after leaving the FBI. River struggles with PTSD after a serial killer case that went wrong. Tony has some health issues, so he decided to leave the agency with her. Their first case is a cold case about a missing teenage boy. River is also staying with her mom, who is in the early stages of dementia, and they struggle to have a good family relationship after River's parent's divorce. There are several threads going on at once in this book. There are mysteries to solve, and at least one psychological killer is on the loose. As the book begins, we also follow one of the killers, Brian, who sees words as colors, which is interesting to read. Will River and Tony find out what happened to the missing boy? Will Brian continue to see colors--most especially red? Will River's family heal from the past and look to God? What about the partner on the loose from the last crime they solved as FBI agents? A lot is going on in this first book of the Ryland and St. Clair series set in Missouri. It took me a little time to warm up to the characters, but soon I wished the good guys the best and hoped the bad guys would get caught. This book also has a spiritual element of Christian faith that Mehl hopes will draw readers closer to God. There is definitely a psychological element to this serial killer, which is interesting if you like that kind of thing. Overall, it is a good start to the new series and will keep readers wanting to know more, especially because there is a cliffhanger at the end of Cold Pursuit leading to book two. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Kristina Hall A great start to Nancy Mehl’s Ryland and St. Clair suspense series! River and Tony were engaging characters with backstories that added to this book. Poor River and Tony both had a hard time in this book ... and before the book started. I wish there’d been a few more scenes from Tony’s perspective, but those will probably come in the other books in the series. The villains’ perspectives were well done and didn’t delve into anything that became too creepy. The plot moved along at a good speed and kept my attention throughout. I enjoyed the Christian themes as well. I appreciated that Nancy Mehl kept the language and hint of romance clean. Speaking of the hint of romance, I’m guessing it will develop during the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in this series and following along with more of River and Tony’s adventures. I think it’s cool that this series features the same main characters throughout. It’s a fun change since most suspense/romantic suspense novels feature a new couple for each book. Overall, Cold Pursuit was an exciting read that I’d recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and suspense novels. Disclosure: I received this book free from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. My opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this following the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. Reviewer: Conny Withay “Their first job is a cold case, but when the past comes back to haunt them, there’s a killer on the loose with River in their sights, set on finishing the job they started,” the back jacket states in Nancy Mehl’s novel, Cold Pursuit. The first book of the Ryland + St. Clair series, this three-hundred-and-thirty-page advance reader copy targets those interested in contemporary Christian suspense involving a pair of private investigators trying to track down a serial killer from their past. Using no profanity, the topics of drug use, molestation, mental health issues, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. In this current-day tale set in St. Louis, thirty-six-year-old River Ryland has PTSD after almost dying catching a serial killer. With the help of prior FBI profiler Tony St. Clair, the two start a private investigation business with their first case to find out what happened to a mother’s son who went missing four years ago. As they dig deeper into the past by reading people, they wonder who they are not interrogating. I found it interesting learning about schizophrenia and synesthesia and how they are dealt with on a professional level. Most of the characters are written well and show valid emotions. I appreciate that the protagonists rely on the Almighty, praying for protection, wisdom, and support. Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like this story. Since it is about a serial killer and the murders he commits, some may not like the gory details. Others may not care for the mention of a psychic, but it is understated. While I appreciate it reiterated that God loves us beyond our understanding, there was no true plan of salvation of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead. If you like a beginning story about a serial killer who uses his victims, this is a good start, but the ending of this first book offers no complete closure. I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. Reviewer: Anna Bottoms
Cold Pursuit is a wild ride with twists and turns I never expected. Told from multiple viewpoints, I got an up-close look at the characters’ thoughts, insecurities, and emotions. This book took a unique path in writing a serial killer. I found myself feeling empathy for him, hoping he’d somehow choose to change and abhor his actions. Tony and River were both well-rounded characters I could easily relate to. Their friendship and care for each other were sweet, and I loved the thread of faith that ran through the book and cemented their relationship. Tony and River both carry scars from a negative experience during their time in the FBI. Each deal with their trauma in their own way, Tony leaning on God and River trying unsuccessfully to suppress it. Now they are starting their own detective agency, and their first case turns out to be more than they ever expected. A grieving mom whose teenage son has been missing for four years, a high school drug ring, and a janitor who’s more than meets the eye. How is everything connected? Or are they? Read this book to find out. I highly recommend it. I was given a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Bethany House, and this is my honest opinion. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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